(19)
(11) EP 1 119 922 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
03.01.2007 Bulletin 2007/01

(21) Application number: 99954885.2

(22) Date of filing: 12.10.1999
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
H04B 1/707(2006.01)
H04Q 7/32(2006.01)
(86) International application number:
PCT/US1999/023830
(87) International publication number:
WO 2000/022748 (20.04.2000 Gazette 2000/16)

(54)

Offline page monitoring

Offline Funkrufüberwachung

Contrôle de recherche de personnes hors ligne


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

(30) Priority: 13.10.1998 US 172068

(43) Date of publication of application:
01.08.2001 Bulletin 2001/31

(73) Proprietor: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
San Diego, CA 92121-1714 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • BUTLER, Brian, K.
    La Jolla, CA 92037 (US)
  • ZHANG, Haitao
    La Jolla, CA 92037 (US)
  • TIEDEMANN, Edward, G., Jr.
    San Diego, CA 92122 (US)
  • ZOU, Qiuzhen
    San Diego, CA 92126 (US)
  • SIH, Gilbert, C.
    San Diego, CA 92129 (US)
  • AGRAWAL, Avneesh
    Sunnyvale, CA 94086 (US)

(74) Representative: Geyer, Ulrich F. 
WAGNER & GEYER, Patentanwälte, Gewürzmühlstrasse 5
80538 München
80538 München (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
WO-A-97/20446
GB-A- 2 320 654
WO-A-98/02759
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION


    I. Field of the Invention



    [0001] The present invention relates to wireless communications. More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel and improved searcher for detecting page messages in spread spectrum communications.

    II. Description of the Related Art



    [0002] In US patent application serial no. 08/316,177 entitled "Multipath Search Processor For A Spread Spectrum Multiple Access Communication System" (The '177 application) a searching for detecting spread spectrum signals is described. The searcher is particularly suited for use in a CDMA based digital cellular telephone system to identify pilot channels transmitted within the CDMA system. Once the pilot channel is identified, the telephone, or "subscriber unit," uses the associated timing information to perform functions such as monitoring for page messages and conducting communications.

    [0003] The '177 searcher typically works in combination with a set of finger elements and decoder placed on a single integrated circuit. Together, the components perform the processing necessary for CDMA communications and page monitoring. For example, to receive a CDMA signal the searcher does pilot channel searching at various offsets in time. Once a pilot channel is detected, the finger elements are activated to process an associated data channel, such as a paging channel or a traffic channel. To perform the searching and the signal processing, the searcher and finger elements receive samples generated in response to RF signals received by the subscriber unit. The samples are typically generated by an RF/IF unit within the mobile phone or subscriber unit.

    [0004] In general, it is desirable to reduce the power consumption of a subscriber unit to reduce the battery size and weight. Additionally, it is desirable to increase the reliability with which page and other messages are received and processed by the subscriber unit. It is to this end, as well as other objectives, that the present invention is directed.

    [0005] Further attention is drawn to the document WO 97/20446 which describes a method for detecting messages transmitted over a communication channel such as a paging channel. The method allows for the detection of data contained in transmitted messages (e.g. page messages) at a selected early point in the receiving and decoding process. By forming, at said point, a received data vector (RDV) from the data corresponding to a received message by comparing the RDV with one or more test data vectors for presenting selected relevant or irrelevant data contained in transmitted messages, the receiver can determine whether the received message contains relevant data which should be fully decoded or irrelevant data which does not need to be fully decoded.

    SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION



    [0006] In accordance with the present invention a system for receiving pages, as set forth in claim 1, and a method for receiving pages, as set forth in claim 8, are provided. Embodiments of the inventions are described in the dependent claims.

    [0007] The present invention is a novel and improved method for performing paging. In one embodiment of the invention a searcher is used to detect spread spectrum signals. Samples of received RF signals are stored in a sample buffer. During standby mode, the samples are gathered during paging slots assigned to the mobile. A set of searches are performed on the samples, and if pilot signals are detected additional demodulation is performed to detect paging messages. The resulting set of demodulation data may be combined to increase detection. After a page message has been detected, additional demodulation resources may be activated to processes more complete page messages, or other information channels. In one embodiment of the invention, the searcher includes a demodulator to perform quick page detection without the use of finger elements to reduce idle mode power consumption.

    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS



    [0008] The features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify correspondingly throughout and wherein:

    FIG. 1 is a cellular telephone system configured in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

    FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a subscriber unit configured in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

    FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the processing performed within a subscriber unit when performed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

    FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a search when configured in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.


    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS



    [0009] A novel and improved method and apparatus for detecting paging messages is described. The exemplary embodiment described herein is set forth in the context of the digital cellular telephone system. While use within this context is advantageous, different embodiments of the invention may be incorporated in different environments or configurations. In general, the various systems described herein may be formed using software-controlled processors, integrated circuits, or discrete logic, however, implementation in an integrated circuit is preferred. The data, instructions, commands, information, signals, symbols and chips that may be referenced throughout the application are advantageously represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or a combination thereof. In addition, the blocks shown in each block diagram may represent hardware or method steps.

    [0010] Fig. 1 is a highly simplified block diagram of a cellular telephone system configured in accordance with the use of present invention. Mobile telephones and other communication systems (subscriber units) 10 are located among base stations 12, which are coupled to base station controller (BSC) 14. Mobile switching center MSC 16 connects BSC 14 to the public switch telephone network (PSTN) 18. During operation, some mobile telephones conduct telephone calls by interfacing with base stations 12 while others are in idle, or standby, mode where they monitor for page messages.

    [0011] In accordance with the use of some CDMA communications protocols, a subscriber unit 10 can simultaneously interface with two base stations 12 in soft handoff. A system and method for operating a cellular telephone using CDMA techniques is described in US patent 5,103,459 entitled "System and Method for Generating Signal Waveforms in a CDMA Cellular Telephone System" assigned to the assignee of the present invention ('459 patent). The system of the '459 patent is configured substantially in accordance with the use of the IS-95 over the air interface standard.

    [0012] Additionally, in one embodiment of the invention, paging of a subscriber unit 10 is performed substantially in accordance with the paging method described in US patent applications serial number 08/865,650, and 08/890,355 both entitled "Dual Channel Slotted Paging" assigned to the assignee of the present invention (the dual channel paging applications). In those patent applications, the use of a quick paging message (quick page) transmitted over a reduced encoding channel is described. One or more quick pages are transmitted before the full page message (full page) to allow a subscriber unit to reduce page monitoring time, and therefore reduce standby power consumption. If the subscriber unit does not receive a positive quick page, then it does not monitor for the full page thereby reducing idle mode power consumption.

    [0013] Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a demodulator used for processing CDMA signals in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Receive (Rx) samples are generated by RF/IF system 190 and antenna system 192, which receive RF signals, filter, downconvert and digitize the RF signals to baseband. The samples are supplied to mux 202 and sample RAM 204. The output of mux 202 is supplied to searcher unit 206 and finger elements 208, which are coupled to control unit 210. Combiner 212 couples decoder 214 to finger elements 208. Typically, control unit 210 is a microprocessor controlled by software, and may be located on the same integrated circuit or on a separate integrated circuit.

    [0014] During operation, receive samples (samples) are stored in sample RAM 200 and applied to mux 202. Mux 202 supplies either real time samples or the stored sample to searcher unit 206 and finger elements 208. Control unit 210 configures finger elements 208 to perform demodulation at different time offsets based on search results from searcher unit 206. The results of the demodulation are combined and passed to decoder 214, which outputs the data.

    [0015] In general, the searching performed by searcher 208 uses non-coherent demodulation of the pilot channel to test timing hypotheses corresponding to various sectors, base stations and multi-paths, while the demodulation performed by finger elements 208 is performed via coherent demodulation of the data channel. Non-coherent demodulation does not require carrier phase information, but detects signal energy rather than the data contained in the signal (for certain waveform types). Coherent demodulation requires phase information, and therefore more information about the signal, but the data transmitted on the signal can be determined. Throughout this application, the term demodulation alone refers to coherent demodulation, while searching refers to non-coherent demodulation. In one embodiment of the invention, despreading is performed by multiplying the received samples with the complex conjugate of the PN sequence and assigned Walsh function at a single timing hypothesis and digitally filtering the resulting samples, often with an integrate and dump accumulator circuit.

    [0016] In one embodiment of the invention, an enhanced searcher is provided that performs both pilot channel searching and demodulation of a paging channel on the samples stored in sample RAM. The demodulation and searching can be performed at various time offsets, and the results of the demodulation are combined to determine if a page message was received. Preferably, the page channel demodulated by searcher is similar to the quick paging channel described in the dual channel paging applications referenced above. As the message duration is small for quick paging (128 or 256 PN chips at 1.2288 Mcps is 104 or 208 microseconds) and the necessary de-skew is small, (about 100-400 microseconds) the required received samples can be readily buffered and processed "off-line" to save power.

    [0017] Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the demodulator of Fig. 2 during idle mode in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Idle mode is the state where the subscriber unit is powered up but not making a call. During idle mode the subscriber unit monitors for paging messages directed to it. The paging message may indicate an incoming communication or telephone call. As noted above, the invention is described in the context of a two channel paging system as described in the dual channel paging applications.

    [0018] At step 300, the subscriber unit collects and stores received samples at step 300 during the quick paging slot assigned to it. In one embodiment, the collection is performed by activating the RF/IF unit 190, storing the samples in the sample RAM, and then deactivating the RF/IF system 190. Typically the subscriber unit collects samples for a longer duration than that of a single quick paging slot so that multiple time offset signals are stored within the set of receive samples.

    [0019] At step 304 searcher unit 206 (of Fig. 2) performs pilot searching on the stored samples at various time offsets. Additionally, pilot searching may be performed for different signals. For example, searching may be performed for signals from different base stations which use different, or differently offset, pilot codes. When a local maxima is detected above a certain threshold, and the combine function is enabled for the particular search window, the resulting hypothesis is demodulated and combined. Once all the hypotheses in a search list have been completed, the step is done.

    [0020] In one embodiment of the invention, it is preferable to have sample RAM 204 large enough to cover the time offset of a set of multipath signals. Thus, by simply searching the same set of samples at different offsets, the different pilots are detected. Similarly, the same set of samples may be demodulated at different offsets to process quick pages. While a quick page channel designed for coherent signaling provides better performance, and therefore is preferred in many instances. A quick paging system may be designed for non-coherent signaling as well.

    [0021] At step 306, searcher 206 is switched to demodulation mode, and the paging channel associated with each signal detected during search mode is demodulated to determine if a quick page has been received. The quick pages are processed by performing coherent demodulation on the set of paging channels corresponding to the set of pilot channels detected during searching. Thus, in one embodiment of the invention the quick page channel is demodulated within the searcher after the searching is performed. Each demodulation is performed at a particular offset within the samples, and the resulting set of demodulation soft decision data is diversity combined using an accumulator within searcher 206.

    [0022] At step 308 the combined demodulation data is examined to determined if a positive quick page has been received (i.e. one indicating the following full paging message may be directed to this subscriber unit 10). If not, the subscriber unit returns to step 300. If so, the finger elements 208, decoder 214 and RF/IF unit 190 are activated at step 310, and the full page processed at step 312. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the subscriber unit continues to search the samples for other pilots to find new signals to process when the next paging slot occurs. Additionally, if the quick paging channel was not received with sufficient quality, then step 310 is performed anyway to ensure that a full-page message is not missed.

    [0023] By performing both the searching and quick page processing within searcher unit 206, the quick paging channel can be monitored without having to activate finger elements until a positive quick page is received. Generally, most quick page messages will be negative, indicating no call or message is pending. Thus, the time the finger elements 208 and other circuitry are activated is significantly reduced. Therefore, reducing the circuitry used to perform quick page channel monitoring increases the standby time of the subscriber unit 10.

    [0024] This reduction in circuitry is accomplished by taking advantage of the reduced coding level of the quick paging channel and quick page message and storing receive samples for processing. This reduced coding allows the demodulation of the quick paging channel to be performed with a limited amount of demodulation functionality, and therefore with limited additional complexity in the searcher. Also, the use of sample RAM 204 allows multiple time offset demodulation to be performed using a single demodulation engine within searcher 206, which further reduces the circuitry necessary to monitor for paging messages.

    [0025] Additional power saving are realized by performing the search and page channel monitoring using stored samples. In one embodiment, the quick paging channel is an uncoded BPSK or OOK bit sent once or twice. In particular, the time that the RF/IF unit 190 operates during each page cycle is reduced by storing the samples when they are generated. Once the samples are stored, subscriber unit deactivates the RF/IF unit to conserve power, and searches the samples repeatedly at different offsets or different pilot signals, or both, using only the digital circuitry.

    [0026] As noted above, performing different searches on the same samples allows the RF unit to turn off once the initial set of samples are gathered. Turning off the RF unit reduces the power consumption of the mobile during idle mode. In contrast, if the samples were not stored, additional samples would have to be gathered for as long as it was necessary to search for the various pilot signals and time offsets. This continuous gathering of pilot data would require the RF unit to remain on, and therefore consuming power, for a longer period of time, which would reduce the stand-by time of the subscriber unit 10.

    [0027] The described embodiment of the invention provides performance enhancements as well as improved idle mode power consumption. In particular, by performing demodulation and searching on the same set of samples, the performance of the demodulation is improved. This is because the best signals as measured by the pilot channel searching will be the best signals for paging channel demodulation because the set of samples are the same. In alternative systems, searching is performed on a first set of samples and the results of that searching are used to determine how to demodulate paging channels in a second set of samples. While the correspondence between the searching results and paging channel quality is typically reasonable if the time span between the two events is small any difference in the channel between the search and demodulation is virtually eliminated when compared to fading channel decorrelation time by conducting searching and demodulation on the same samples.

    [0028] Fig. 4 is a block diagram of searcher 206 when configured in accordance of one embodiment of the invention. The in-phase and quadrature phase samples are read from sample RAM 204 (Fig. 2) and despread by QPSK despreader 402 using a PN code from PN code generator 404, where the PN code is comprised of an in-phase portion (PNI) and a quadrature phase portion (PNQ). The resulting in-phase and quadrature phase components from QPSK despreader 402 are applied to multipliers 406a - d. Processing after the sample RAM may happen at arbitrary clock frequencies, such as 19 MHz unrelated to the original chip rate.

    [0029] During search mode, Walsh code generators 408 and 410 generate the pilot channel Walsh code which is applied to multipliers 406a - 406d. Multipliers 406a - 406d and accumulators 408a - 408d operate together to decover the despread samples with the pilot Walsh code from Pilot Walsh code generator 408. QPSK despreader and WALSH multiply may occur in order, or integrated as a single operation for equivalent results.

    [0030] The decovered pilot samples from accumulators 408a and 408b are applied to multipliers 420 twice: once directly and once via multiplexers 423. The result is that the decovered pilot samples are squared, and the squared outputs are summed by summer 422. Thus, in search mode, the dot product of the decovered pilot data is calculated, and therefore the correlation energy of the pilot channel at the current offset.

    [0031] Similarly, the decovered pilot samples from accumulators 408c and 408d are applied to square circuits 410 the outputs of which are summed by summer 412. Thus, square circuits 410 and summer 412 act to calculate the dot product of the decover pilot data with itself, and therefore the correlation energy of the pilot channel at the current offset.

    [0032] The dot products from summers 412 and 422 are received by received by local maxima calculator 414. Local maxima calculator 414 determines the most likely offset, or offsets, from a set of offsets (or hypothesis) attempted by the searcher based on the correlation energy. For example, local max calculator 414 may save the local largest energy in a set of oversampled correlation energies in order to isolate the sample nearest the true offset. Multipliers 406a and 406b and accumulators 408a and 408b operate together to decover the despread samples with the quick paging Walsh code from quick page Walsh code generator.

    [0033] The set of offsets are generated as the timing of the PN and Walsh codes are adjusted relative to the samples. In an exemplary search, the PN and Walsh codes are adjusted in small increments around particular search regions. Typically, the code generators are configured by a control system which also defines the search regions with a start offset and a finish offset. The control system may be a microprocessor or digital signal processor controlled by software stored in memory.

    [0034] N-max tracker 416 collects the set of N largest correlation energies for the different search regions. N is an integer, preferably in the range 4 to 16. The use of other criteria for collecting search results, such as diversity of signal source, is consistent with the use of the invention. The resulting set of correlation energies and associated offsets (search results) are reported to the control system.

    [0035] In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, once the search operation has been performed, the control system configures the searcher to perform demodulation on the paging channel for a set of signals and offsets based on the search results. To perform demodulation of the page channel (preferably the quick page channel), Walsh generator 410 is configured to generate the paging channel Walsh code, and multiplexers 423 are configured to apply the output of accumulators 408c and 408d to multipliers 420. Additionally, accumulators 408a and 408b are configured to integrate exactly over the bit duration.

    [0036] For each signal to be demodulated, the control system configures the PN generator and Walsh generators at the particular offset, and the samples are demodulated again. The quick paging channel decovered samples from accumulators 408a and 408b are applied to multipliers 420. Additionally, the pilot channel decovered samples are applied to multipliers 420 via muxes 423.

    [0037] To perform the dot product of pilot and paging data, the outputs of multipliers 420 are added by adder 422, and the resulting projected quick paging channel soft decision data is received by latches 424. Various other methods for adjusting for carrier phase will be apparent including the use of a cross product operation or other phase rotation methods. The dot product recovers the data that is in-phase with the pilots & weights it for combining. The output of latches 424 is then received by combiner accumulator 426. For each signal demodulated, accumulator 426 adds in the demodulation results. Once the set of signals are demodulated, the combined quick page data is output to the control system, which estimates the data transmitted by making a hard decision based on the accumulated soft decision data. Based on the hard decision, is determined whether a quick page has been sent.

    [0038] Additionally, in one embodiment of the invention, the energy from the decovered pilot channel data is calculated again by performing a dot product operation, and the resulting pilot energy is accumulated for each signal by accumulator 426. The accumulated pilot energy is forwarded to the control system.

    [0039] In one embodiment of the invention, the control system determines whether to rely on the quick paging data based on the accumulated pilot energy. If the accumulated pilot energy is above a certain threshold, then the quick paging channel results are relied on. Otherwise, then next quick page slot is processed, or the full paging channel is processed. As noted above, using the same samples to processing the pilot and paging channels ensures that the channel is the same for the two processings, which improves demodulation performance.

    [0040] Thus, a system and method for performing page monitoring has been described. The previous description of the preferred embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. The various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without the use of the inventive faculty. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.


    Claims

    1. A system for receiving pages, comprising:

    a. a receiver means (192, 190) for receiving receive samples;

    b. a storage unit (204) for storing first receive samples from the receiver;

    c. a means for turning off said receiver means after said first receive samples have been stored;

    d. a searcher (206) for detecting the correlation energy of a pilot channel within said first receive samples and for demodulating a reduced encoding paging channel, thereafter referred to as quick paging channel within said first receive samples while the receiver means is turned off; and

    e. a means (210) for re-activating the receiver means to receive second receive samples in response to data received from the searcher indicating a quick page within said first receive samples; and

    f. a demodulation element (208) for demodulating a non-reduced encoding paging channel, hereinafter referred to as full paging channel within said second receive samples.


     
    2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said data demodulation element is adapted to generate soft decision data and said system further comprising a decoder (214) for decoding said soft decision data from said demodulation element.
     
    3. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the receiver means further comprises an RF unit (190) for generating said receive samples.
     
    4. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said searcher (206) comprises:

    d1. a first processing element (406D, 406C) for despreading a pilot channel;

    d2. a second processing element (406A, 406B) for despreading said pilot channel and for despreading said quick paging channel;

    d3. a phase adjustment demodulation circuit (420, 422, 423) for rotating said quick paging channel data using said pilot channel from said first processing element; and

    d4. a correlation energy circuit (410) for calculating correlation energy for said first processing element.


     
    5. The system of claim 4 wherein the phase adjustment demodulation circuit is operative to perform a two-dimensional vector dot product or cross product between quick page and pilot complex baseband signals.
     
    6. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein
    said searcher (206) is adapted to perform multiple demodulations at a particular offset within said stored first received samples and to generate a resulting set of demodulation soft decision data and further comprising
    a combiner (426) for combining said demodulation soft decision data of said resulting set.
     
    7. The system of claim 6, wherein said combiner (426) comprises an accumulator.
     
    8. A method for receiving pages, comprising the steps of:

    a. receiving (300) first receive samples at a receiver;

    b. storing (300) said first receive samples;

    c. turning off said receiver after said first receive samples have been stored;

    d. detecting (306) the correlation energy of a pilot channel within said first receive samples and demodulating a reduced encoding paging channel, thereafter referred to as quick paging channel within said first receive samples while the receiver is turned off;

    e. re-activating the receiver to receive second receive samples in response to data indicating that a quick page was detected in the quick paging channel; and

    f. demodulating (312) a non-reduced encoding paging channel, hereinafter referred to as full paging channel within said second receive samples.


     
    9. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein step d. further comprises the steps of:

    d1. searching a pilot channel;

    d2. despreading said pilot channel;

    d3. despreading said quick paging channel; and

    d4. demodulating said quick paging channel by projecting said quick paging channel despread data onto said pilot channel despread data.


     
    10. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein step d. further comprises the steps of:

    d1. searching a pilot channel;

    d2. demodulating said pilot channel;

    d3. demodulating said quick paging channel;

    d4. calculating correlation energy from pilot channel data;

    d5. projecting quick paging channel data using pilot channel data; and

    d6. calculating a correlation energy for said pilot information channel data.


     
    11. The method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising the steps of performing multiple demodulations at a particular offset within said stored first
    received samples ,
    generating a resulting set of demodulation soft decision data, and
    accumulate said demodulation soft decision data of said resulting set.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Ein System zum Empfangen von Funkrufen bzw. Pages, wobei das System Folgendes aufweist:

    a. ein Empfängermittel (192, 190) zum Empfangen von Empfangsabtastungen bzw. -samples;

    b. eine Speichereinheit (204) zum Speichern von ersten Empfangssamples von dem Empfänger;

    c. ein Mittel zum Abschalten der Empfängermittel, nachdem die Empfangssamples gespeichert wurden;

    d. ein Sucherelement (206) zum Detektieren der Korrelationsenergie eines Pilotkanals innerhalb der ersten Empfangssamples und zum Demodulieren eines Pagingkanals mit reduzierter Codierung, worauf im Folgenden als Quick-Paging-Kanal Bezug genommen wird, innerhalb der ersten Empfangssamples, während das Empfängermittel ausgeschaltet ist; und

    e. ein Mittel (210) zum Reaktivieren des Empfängermittels, um zweite Empfangssamples, ansprechend auf Datenempfang von dem Suchelement, anzeigend für einen Quick- bzw. Schnellpage innerhalb der ersten Empfangssamples, zu empfangen; und

    f. ein Demodulationselement (208) zum Demodulieren eines Pagingkanals mit nicht-reduzierter Codierung, worauf im Folgenden als Voll-Paging-Kanal Bezug genommen wird, innerhalb der zweiten Empfangssamples.


     
    2. System gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei das Datendemodulationselement angepasst ist, um Softdecision- bzw. weiche Entscheidungsdaten zu generieren und das System weiterhin einen Decoder (214) zum Decodieren der weichen Entscheidungsdaten von dem Demodulationselement aufweist.
     
    3. System gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei das Empfangsmittel weiterhin eine HF-Einheit (190) zum Generieren der Empfangssamples aufweist.
     
    4. System gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei das Suchelement (206) Folgendes aufweist:

    d1. ein erstes Verarbeitungselement (406D, 406C) zum Entspreizen eines Pilotkanals;

    d2. ein zweites Verarbeitungselement (406A, 406B) zum Entspreizen des Pilotkanals und zum Entspreizen des Schnell-Paging-Kanals;

    d3. eine Phasenanpass-Demodulationsschaltung (420, 422, 423) zum Rotieren der Schnell-Paging-Kanal-Daten unter Verwendung des Pilotkanals von dem ersten Verarbeitungselement; und

    d4. eine Korrelatiionsenergieschaltung (410) zum Berechnen einer Korrelationsenergie für das erste Verarbeitungselement.


     
    5. System nach Anspruch 4, wobei die Phasenanpass-Demodulationsschaltung operativ ist, um ein zweidimensionales Vektorskalarprodukt oder Kreuzprodukt zwischen den Schnell-Page- und Pilotkomplexbasisbandsignalen auszuführen.
     
    6. System gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei das Sucherelement (206) angepasst ist, um mehrere Demodulationen bei einem bestimmten Offset innerhalb der gespeicherten ersten Empfangssamples auszuführen und um einen resultierenden Satz von Demodulationsweich-Entscheidungsdaten zu generieren und weiterhin Folgendes aufweist:

    einen Kombinierer (426) zum Kombinieren der Demodulationsweich-Entscheidungsdaten des resultierenden Satzes.


     
    7. System gemäß Anspruch 6, wobei der Kombinierer (426) ein Akkumulationselement aufweist.
     
    8. Verfahren zum Empfangen von Pages bzw. Funkrufen, wobei das Verfahren folgende Schritte aufweist:

    a. Empfangen (300) von ersten Empfangssamples bei einem Empfänger;

    b. Speichern (300) der ersten Empfangssamples;

    c. Abschalten des Empfängers nach Speichern der ersten Empfangssamples;

    d. Detektieren (306) der Korrelationsenergie eines Pilotkanals innerhalb der ersten Empfangssamples und Demodulieren eines Paging-Kanals mit reduzierter Codierung, worauf im Folgenden als Schnell-Paging-Kanal Bezug genommen wird, innerhalb der ersten Empfangssamples, während der Empfänger ausgeschaltet ist;

    e. Reaktivieren des Empfängers, um zweite Empfangssamples zu empfangen, und zwar ansprechend auf Daten, anzeigend dafür, dass ein Schnell-Page in dem Schnell-Paging-Kanal detektiert wurde; und

    f. Demdodulieren (312) eines Paging-Kanals mit nicht-reduzierter Codierung, worauf im Folgenden als Voll-Paging-Kanal Bezug genommen wird, innerhalb der zweiten Empfangssamples.


     
    9. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 8, wobei der Schritt d. weiterhin Folgende Schritte aufweist:

    d1. Suchen eine Pilotkanals;

    d2. Entspreizen des Pilotkanals;

    d3. Entspreizen des Schnell-Paging-Kanals; und

    d4. Demodulieren des Schnell-Paging-Kanals durch Projizieren der entspreizten Daten des Schnell-Paging-Kanals auf die entspreizten Daten des Pilotkanals.


     
    10. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 8, wobei der Schritt d. weiterhin Folgende Schritte aufweist:

    d1. Suchen eine Pilotkanals;

    d2. Demodulieren des Pilotkanals;

    d3. Demodulieren des Schnell-Paging-Kanals;

    d4. Berechnen von Korrelationsenergie von den Pilotkanaldaten;

    d5. Projizieren von Schnell-Paging-Kanal-Daten unter Verwendung von Pilotkanaldaten; und

    d6. Berechnen einer Korrelationsenergie für die Pilotinformationskanaldaten.


     
    11. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 8, das weiterhin folgende Schritte aufweist:

    Ausführen von mehrfachen Demodulationen bei einem gewissen Versatz bzw. Offset innerhalb der gespeicherten ersten Empfangssamples,

    Generieren eines resultierenden Satzes von Demodulationsweich-Entscheidungdaten und

    Akkumulieren bzw. Sammeln von Demodulationsweich-Entscheidungsdaten des resultierenden Satzes.


     


    Revendications

    1. Système pour recevoir des téléavertissements comprenant :

    a) un moyen récepteur (192, 190) pour recevoir des échantillons reçus ;

    b) un module de mémorisation (204) pour mémoriser des premiers échantillons reçus en provenance du récepteur ;

    c) un moyen pour couper le moyen récepteur après que les premiers échantillons reçus ont été mémorisés ;

    d) un moyen de recherche (206) pour détecter l'énergie de corrélation d'un canal pilote dans les premiers échantillons reçus et pour démoduler un canal de téléavertissement à codage réduit, appelé ci-après canal de téléavertissement rapide à l'intérieur des premiers échantillons reçus tandis que le moyen récepteur est coupé ;

    e) un moyen (210) pour réactiver le moyen récepteur pour recevoir des seconds échantillons reçus en réponse à des données reçues à partir du moyen de recherche indiquant un téléavertissement rapide dans les premiers échantillons reçus ; et

    f) un élément de démodulation (208) pour démoduler un canal de téléavertissement à codage non réduit, ci-après appelé canal de téléavertissement complet dans les seconds échantillons reçus.


     
    2. Système selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'élément de démodulation de données est adapté à produire des données de décision douce et le système comprend en outre un décodeur (214) pour décoder les données de décision douce à partir de l'élément de démodulation.
     
    3. Système selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le moyen récepteur comprend en outre un module RF (190) pour produire les échantillons reçus.
     
    4. Système selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le moyen de recherche (206) comprend :

    d1. un premier élément de traitement (406D, 406C) pour désétaler un canal pilote ;

    d2. un second élément de traitement (406A, 406B) pour désétaler le canal pilote et pour désétaler le canal de téléavertissement rapide ;

    d3. un circuit de démodulation à réglage de phase (420, 422, 423) pour faire tourner les données du canal de téléavertissement rapide en utilisant le canal pilote à partir du premier élément de traitement ; et

    d4. un circuit d'énergie de corrélation (410) pour calculer l'énergie de corrélation pour le premier élément de traitement.


     
    5. Système selon la revendication 4, dans lequel le circuit de démodulation à réglage de phase agit pour réaliser un produit scalaire ou un produit vectoriel bidimensionnel entre les signaux de téléavertissement rapide et des signaux de bande de base complexes de pilote.
     
    6. Système selon la revendication 1, dans lequel :

    le moyen de recherche (206) est adapté à réaliser des démodulations multiples à un décalage particulier dans les premiers échantillons reçus mémorisés et à produire un ensemble résultant de données de décision douce de démodulation, et comprenant en outre :

    un moyen de combinaison (426) pour combiner les données de décision douce de démodulation de l'ensemble résultant.


     
    7. Système selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le moyen de combinaison (426) comprend un accumulateur.
     
    8. Procédé pour recevoir des téléavertissements, comprenant les étapes suivantes :

    a) recevoir (300) des premiers échantillons reçus au niveau d'un récepteur ;

    b) mémoriser (300) les premiers échantillons reçus ;

    c) couper le récepteur après que les premiers échantillons reçus ont été mémorisés ;

    d) détecter (306) l'énergie de corrélation d'un canal pilote dans les premiers échantillons reçus et démoduler un canal de téléavertissement à codage réduit, appelé ci-après canal de téléavertissement rapide, à l'intérieur des premiers échantillons reçus tandis que le récepteur est coupé ;

    e) réactiver le récepteur pour recevoir des seconds échantillons reçus en réponse à des données indiquant qu'un téléavertissement rapide a été détecté dans les premiers échantillons reçus ; et

    f) démoduler (312) un canal de téléavertissement à codage non réduit, ci-après appelé canal de téléavertissement complet dans les seconds échantillons reçus.


     
    9. Procédé selon la revendication 8, dans lequel l'étape d) comprend en outre les étapes suivantes :

    d1. rechercher un canal pilote ;

    d2. désétaler le canal pilote ;

    d3. désétaler le canal de téléavertissement rapide ; et

    d4. démoduler le canal de téléavertissement rapide en projetant les données désétalées de canal de téléavertissement rapide sur les données désétalées de canal pilote.


     
    10. Procédé selon la revendication 8, dans lequel l'étape d) comprend les étapes suivantes :

    d1. rechercher un canal pilote ;

    d2. démoduler le canal pilote ;

    d3. démoduler le canal de téléavertissement rapide ;

    d4. calculer une énergie de corrélation à partir des données de canal pilote ;

    d5. projeter des données de canal de téléavertissement rapide en utilisant des données de canal pilote ; et

    d6. calculer l'énergie de corrélation pour les données de canal d'information pilote.


     
    11. Procédé selon la revendication 8, comprenant en outre les étapes consistant à :

    réaliser des démodulations multiples à un décalage particulier dans les premiers échantillons reçus mémorisés ;

    produire un ensemble résultant de données de décision douce de démodulation ; et

    accumuler les données de décision douce de démodulation de l'ensemble résultant.


     




    Drawing